Saturday, October 19, 2013

GOD NEVER RETIRES

God Retires! A presumptuous headline beamed through all the
major dailies of India in Oct. The occasion was the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar,
one of the most celebrated cricketers of modern times. His fans eulogized him: “Cricket
is my religion and Sachin is my God”.

It showcases the illiteracy which has penetrated in Indian society
about God and religion. It seems that Indians have forgotten the meaning of God
and religion. Considered to be the holiest place on earth; people from all over
the world throng to India for spiritual emancipation. India is a country where
God walked and where sages and seers still drench themselves in spiritual
fervour.

But sadly people today have a much skewed understanding
about God. In Sanskrit God means parameshvara
i.e. the supreme controller. God is the best in all aspects – he is the most
beautiful, the most intelligent, the most magnanimous, the strongest, the most
powerful, he is the proprietor of everything. No one can have all these
qualities at a time or any of these qualities in full. Few mortals for short
span of time may partially reflect one of these qualities.

Vedic books give detailed description of “Who is God”. Here are some examples: isvarah paramah Krishna — "Krishna who is known as Govinda is
the Supreme Godhead" (Brahma-samhita 5.1); Krishna tu bhagavan svayam — "Lord Sri Krishna is the
original Personality of Godhead” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.38). "Devaki’s son
[Krishna] is the Supreme Lord" [Narayana Upanisad (4)]. Even Krishna Himself
declares explicitly about His supreme position: mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya — "O conqueror
of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me" (Bhagavad-Gita 7.7).

So let us stop demeaning God by calling anyone as God. God
is Always God & God Never Retires.